COMMUNITY

Hearth fire engulfs house in Ruidoso

Fire fighters successfully kept the blaze from spreading into the tall dry grass on the mountainside off Mechem Drive and Sunny Slope

Dianne L Stallings
Ruidoso News
  • No evacuations were ordered

 

Firemen check their equipment before heading back into the heavy smoke from the house fire on Vanado.

A hearth in a home at 307 Vanado in Ruidoso caught fire about 2:45 p.m.,Wednesday, but the flames spread quickly engulfing most of the house, Kerry Gladden, who handles public information for the village, said.

The owner called 911. Fire fighters from the Ruidoso Fire Department responded within minutes. The owner was helped to leave the structure. Firefighters successfully worked to keep the flames from spreading into the tall dry grass on the mountain side behind Sunny Slope.

The morning after the fire, heavy rain fell on the hillside above the house, which was gutted by the flames.

Helped by units from Ruidoso Downs, Glencoe, Bonito, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management  and Mescalero, Ruidoso firefighters battled strong winds, but were able to confine the blaze. No other structures were impacted. Del Norte was closed to traffic during the incident. By 4 p.m., rain moved into the area to help the effort. No evacuations were ordered, Gladden said.

“They have it contained, but we’re calling more personnel in to get bodies and water on it just to keep it contained,” Gladden said.  “Right now, I’m standing near and can’t see any flames.”